Cheaper 1996 Dodge Stratus Insurance Cost

Buying cheap insurance coverage online may at first seem to be somewhat difficult for consumers who are new to online price comparisons. With such a large choice of companies in the marketplace, how are we expected to have time to compare each option to find the best pricing?

It’s a good habit to take a look at other company’s rates as often as possible since rates trend upward over time. Despite the fact that you may have had the best deal for Stratus coverage on your last policy there may be better deals available now. Ignore everything you know about insurance coverage because you’re about to learn the things you must know in order to get good coverage at a lower rate.

Affordable auto insurance price quotes

When shopping for cheap car insurance quotes, there are a couple of ways of comparing price quotes from many different insurance companies. The fastest way to find the lowest Dodge Stratus rates involves getting comparison quotes online. This can be accomplished in a couple minutes as outlined below.

  • If you don’t have a lot of time, the easiest way consumers can make multiple comparisons is to use a rate comparison form click here to open form in new window. This style of form prevents you from having to do a different quote for every auto insurance company. One form submission gets insurance cost estimates from multiple low-cost companies. Recommended for those who want to invest the least amount of time.
  • A slightly less efficient method to compare rate quotes consists of going to each company’s website and repeat the quote process again and again. For sake of this example, we’ll assume you are doing a rate comparison from Farmers, Safeco and GEICO. You would have to take the time to go to each site to input your insurance information, which can get old fast.

    For a handy list of car insurance company links in your area, click here.

How you compare quotes is your choice, just ensure you are comparing the exact same coverage limits for each comparison quote. If you enter different limits and deductibles on each one it will be very difficult to determine which rate is truly the best. Quoting even small variations in limits can mean a large discrepancy in price. Just remember that comparing a wide range of rates gives you a better chance of getting a better price.

More discounts mean cheaper premiums

The cost of insuring your cars can be expensive, but you might already qualify for some discounts that you may not even be aware of. Certain credits will be shown when you quote, but lesser-known reductions have to be asked for prior to getting the savings.

  • Discount for Passive Restraints – Vehicles equipped with air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems can qualify for discounts of 25 to 30%.
  • Life Insurance – Some companies give a discounted rate on car insurance if you buy a life insurance policy as well.
  • Early Switch Discount – A few insurance companies allow discounts for buying a policy before your current policy expires. The savings is around 10%.
  • Low Miles Discount – Keeping the miles down on your Dodge can earn substantially lower prices.
  • Membership in Organizations – Being a member of certain professional organizations could earn you a nice discount on insurance.
  • Theft Prevention Discount – Vehicles that have factory alarm systems and tracking devices can help prevent theft and will save you 10% or more.
  • Waiver for an Accident – This one isn’t a discount, but certain companies permit an accident without the usual rate increase if your claims history is clear for a specific time period.
  • Save over 55 – Mature drivers can get a slight reduction on a car insurance quote for Stratus coverage.
  • Policy Bundle Discount – If you combine your home and auto policies and insure them both with the same insurance company you may earn at least 10% off all policies.

Discounts reduce rates, but you should keep in mind that many deductions do not apply to your bottom line cost. Most only reduce the price of certain insurance coverages like medical payments or collision. Even though the math looks like all those discounts means the company will pay you, company stockholders wouldn’t be very happy. Any qualifying discounts will lower the amount you pay for coverage.

Insurance companies that may offer policyholders these money-saving discounts include:

When quoting, ask all the companies how you can save money. Some credits might not be available to policyholders in your area.

It’s not one size fits all

When it comes to buying proper insurance coverage for your vehicles, there is no best way to insure your cars. Everyone’s situation is a little different.

These are some specific questions can help discover whether or not you will benefit from professional help.

  • Does my 1996 Dodge Stratus need full coverage?
  • Why do I need rental car insurance?
  • Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
  • Is my camper covered by my car insurance policy?
  • Do I need special endorsements for business use of my vehicle?
  • When should I buy a commercial auto policy?
  • Why am I be forced to buy a membership to get insurance from some companies?

If you can’t answer these questions then you might want to talk to a licensed agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form.

Components of your Dodge Stratus insurance prices

Many different elements are part of the equation when you quote your car insurance policy. Some of the criteria are obvious such as traffic violations, but other factors are not quite as obvious such as your marital status or your financial responsibility.The best way to find cheaper car insurance is to take a look at some of the things that aid in calculating car insurance rates. When you understand what positively or negatively impacts your premiums, this enables you to make decisions that could result in much lower annual insurance costs.

The list below includes most of the major factors utilized by car insurance companies to help set premiums.

  • Don’t let your car insurance lapse – Driving any period of time without insurance is a misdemeanor and you will pay a penalty because you let your coverage lapse. In addition to paying higher premiums, the inability to provide proof of insurance will get you fines or a revoked license. You will then be forced to provide proof of insurance in the form of an SR-22 filing with your state motor vehicle department to get your license reinstated.
  • Buy as much liability coverage as you can afford – Your policy’s liability coverage kicks in if a jury decides you are liable for physical damage or personal injury to other. Your liability coverage provides legal defense to attempt to prove you were not liable. Carrying liability coverage is mandatory and cheap when compared with rates for comp and collision, so buy as much as you can afford.
  • Cheaper rates with high coverage deductibles – The deductibles represent how much money you are required to spend if the claim is covered. Coverage for physical damage, otherwise known as comp (or other than collision) and collision, covers damage that occurs to your car. Some instances where coverage would apply would be a windshield broken by a bird, fire damage, and damage from wind. The more damage repair cost the insured is willing to pay, the less your car insurance will be for Stratus coverage.
  • Use one insurance company and save – The majority of insurance companies provide a discount for people who carry more than one policy in the form of a multi-policy discount. The discount can be anywhere from five to ten percent in most cases. Even if you’re getting this discount you still need to compare other insurance prices to confirm you are receiving the best rates possible.
  • Avoid traffic tickets – Having a clean driving record can have a huge impact on auto insurance premiums. Drivers who don’t get tickets get better rates compared to bad drivers. Getting just one ticket can bump up the cost substantially. Drivers who have careless violations like DUI or reckless driving may find that they have to to file a SR-22 with their state in order to keep their license.
  • Deter vehicle theft – Choosing to buy a car that has an advanced theft prevention system can help lower your rates. Theft prevention features such as OnStar found on GM vehicles, advanced tracking like LoJack, and vehicle immobilization systems all help stop car theft and help bring rates down.

Educate yourself about auto insurance coverages

Learning about specific coverages of auto insurance can help you determine which coverages you need and the correct deductibles and limits. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and coverage can change by endorsement.

Comprehensive insurance – This will pay to fix damage that is not covered by collision coverage. You first must pay your deductible then your comprehensive coverage will pay.

Comprehensive coverage pays for claims such as a broken windshield, a tree branch falling on your vehicle, theft, rock chips in glass and fire damage. The maximum payout you can receive from a comprehensive claim is the market value of your vehicle, so if the vehicle is not worth much it’s probably time to drop comprehensive insurance.

Med pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments coverage kick in for short-term medical expenses such as dental work, doctor visits, prosthetic devices and ambulance fees. They can be used to fill the gap from your health insurance program or if you lack health insurance entirely. It covers you and your occupants and will also cover being hit by a car walking across the street. Personal Injury Protection is not an option in every state and may carry a deductible

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) – This protects you and your vehicle when the “other guys” either are underinsured or have no liability coverage at all. Covered losses include injuries to you and your family as well as your vehicle’s damage.

Because many people only carry the minimum required liability limits, their limits can quickly be used up. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage should not be overlooked.

Collision – Collision coverage will pay to fix damage to your Stratus from colliding with another car or object. A deductible applies and the rest of the damage will be paid by collision coverage.

Collision insurance covers things such as driving through your garage door, sustaining damage from a pot hole, rolling your car and backing into a parked car. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so you might think about dropping it from lower value vehicles. You can also raise the deductible to save money on collision insurance.

Liability insurance – Liability coverage protects you from damages or injuries you inflict on other people or property. This coverage protects you from claims by other people. It does not cover your injuries or vehicle damage.

Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage. You might see policy limits of 100/300/100 which stand for a limit of $100,000 per injured person, $300,000 for the entire accident, and a limit of $100,000 paid for damaged property.

Liability coverage pays for claims such as attorney fees, repair costs for stationary objects, medical services, emergency aid and bail bonds. How much liability should you purchase? That is a decision to put some thought into, but buy as large an amount as possible.

More effort can pay off

When trying to cut insurance costs, make sure you don’t skimp on coverage in order to save money. Too many times, someone sacrificed uninsured motorist or liability limits only to regret that they should have had better coverage. Your aim should be to get the best coverage possible for the lowest cost, but do not skimp to save money.

Budget-friendly insurance is attainable online as well as from independent agents, so get free car insurance quotes from both of them to have the best rate selection. A few companies may not provide online price quotes and many times these small, regional companies only sell through independent agencies.

People change insurance companies for a number of reasons such as extreme rates for teen drivers, delays in paying claims, unfair underwriting practices or policy cancellation. It doesn’t matter why you want to switch finding a new insurance company is pretty easy and you might even save some money in the process.

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